Electrical counter



Jan. 19, 1954 K. P. aow ETAL 2,666,912

ELECTRICAL COUNTER Fil ed May 16,- 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 4- POWER Bus, 35

INVENTORS.

K. P. GOW ET AL ELECTRICAL COUNTER I 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 16, 1950 a 63m um ou I N VEN TORS.

Jan. 19, 1954 K. P. GOW ETAL ELECTRICAL COUNTER 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 16, 1950 BY 5M6 Jan. 19, 1954 K. P. eow ET AL 2,666,912

ELECTRICAL COUNTER Filed May 16, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 o o c: i O 3, fl

E00 E20 E40 E500 E100 E800 E100 1 HUNDREDS .Rr w 221 powee Bus 21 INVENTORS.

ailmvuya position. Additional relays associated with the tens decade operate to digitize this decade and also to transfer the next higher, or hundreds decade at the appropriate shaft position. More decades and relays can be added if higher readings are desired. Additional rotating contacts, geared to the highest decade, are utilized to operate a further pair of relays to provide for the appropriate positive or negative count as determined by the rotational position of the input shaft. Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved device for digitally counting the angular position of a rotating shaft.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a device wherein very high speed shaft rotation and high counting rates will not cause mechanical failure of such device.

It is another object of this invention to provide such a device which applies a constant torque to the rotating shaft regardless of the position of such a shaft.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide such a device wherein a digitized output is produced by means of electrical relays rather than an intermittent mechanical motion.

It is still another object of this invention to provide such a device wherein the angular position of the rotating shaft is translatedinto whole number counts by electrical circuits suitable for providing the input to indicating and recording mechanisms requiring a digital input.

It is still another object of this invention to provide such a device which, although operated by electrical relays, will provide accurate counts following any power interruption.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a device, the output of which can be fed independently to several indicating or recording mechanisms simultaneously.

It is another object of this invention to pro vide such a device which, although electrical in operation, is not affected by electrical disturbances.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide such a device which will furnish either positive or negative counts Without introducing a double zero error.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide such a device wherein the output count thereof can be automatically discontinued after the rotating shaft has rotated a predetermined amount.

It is another object of this invention to provide such a device wherein the output count may be frozen for any desired time, even though the motion of the input shaft continues, without impairing the accuracy of subsequent counts.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description:

Figure l is a schematic drawing of an electrical counter embodying the invention.

Figure 2 illustrates the device shown in Figure l at a different point of operation.

Figure 3 illustrates the device shown in Figure 1 at a still different point of operation.

Figure 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a second embodiment of the invention.

Referring now to Figure 1, the numeral I I designates an input shaft, the rotation of which is digitally counted by the device in a manner which will hereinafter be described. Integrally connected to the shaft I I in any suitable manner is a rotating control contact I2 adapted to engage a fixed control contact I4. The fixed control contact I4 is mounted in spaced relation to the shaft I I so that as the shaft I I, and with it the rotating control contact I2, revolves the contacts I2 and I4 form a closed electrical circuit during approximately one half of each revolution. Connected to the contact I4 by means of a conductor I6 is a control relay designated R-I which, by means of a conductor I8. is electrically connected to the power bus 2|. As seen, the rotating control contact is electrically connected by means of conductors 22 and 24 to the power bus 26. Fixedly mounted upon the shaft I I is a spur gear 28 which meshes a second and larger spur gear 3|. For reasons which will hereinafter be apparent, the gears 28 and 3I are designed to provide a ten to one speed stepdown between the shaft II and the shaft 32 on which the gear 3I is fixedly mounted. At the upper end of the shaft 32 is a hub 34 carrying a leading rotating contact 36 and a trailing rotating contact 38. Rotating contacts 36 and 38 are adapted to contact a plurality of equally spaced fixed output contacts designated by the numerals 0 through 9. The spacing between each adjacent fixed contact 0 through 9 is slightly greater than the width of either rotating contact 36 or 38 with the result that neither of these rotating contacts can simultaneously engage two adjacent fixed output contacts. The spacing between rotating contacts 36 and 38 is less than the width of the fixed output contacts 0 through 9 with the result that both rotating contacts 36 and 38 may simultaneously engage any of the fixed output contacts. The space relationship between rotating contacts 38, 38 and rotating control contact I2 is such that when rotating control contact I2 is engaging fixed contact I4 (which occurs at the start of a revolution of the input shaft II) rotating contacts 36 and 38 will be engaging adjacent output contacts whereas revolution later, at which time rotating control contact I2 will be disengaged from fixed control contact I4, rotating contacts 36 and 38 will simultaneously engage the same output contact. A conductor 4I connects the trailing rotating contact 38 to the power bus 26 through a break contact C-I. Similarly, the leading ro tating contact 38 is connected to the power bus 25 by a conductor 42 through a make contact 0-2. For reasons later to be described, the break contact C-I is normally in a closedposition and is opened by the relay R-I when that relay is energized. On the other hand, make contact (3-2 is normally open and is closed by the relay R-I when the relay is energized. Many types of suitable relays and make and break contacts operated thereby are in common use and it is therefore deemed unnecessary to describe the structure of these elements in detail herein. v I i At the lower end of the shaft 32 is a hub 44 which carries a rotating control contact 46 adapted to contact fixed control contacts 48 and 5|. As seen, fixed contact 5| extends approximately and the length of fixed contact 48 is approximately that of contact 5|. The contacts 48 and 5| are separated as shown, such separation being less than the width of the rotating control contact 45 to insure that such rotating contact will touch contact 5! before it leaves the fixed contact 48. The space relationship between rotating control contact 46 and rotating control contact I2 is such that rotating control contact 46 will engage fixed control contact 48 but not 5| when rotating control contact I2 is engaging fixed control contact I4 at the start ofeach ten revolutions of input shaft II. Further, rotating the shaft I64. In addition, the spaced relationship between the rotating contacts I06 and I68 and the fixed contacts I12 and H4 is such that both rotating contacts I06 and I08 will simultaneously engage plus fixed contact I12 when rotating control contact I46 is disengaging fixed control contact Il after approximately positive revolution of the shaft 64. Both rotating contacts I86 and I88 will simultaneously engage fixed minus contact I'I4 when rotating control contact I46 is engaging fixed control contact I5I after approximately revolution of the shaft 64 in the negative direction. As seen, plus fixed contact I I2 is electrically connected to the power bus 2| through a plus relay R42. Similarly minus fixed contact H4 is connected to the power bus 2| through a minus relay R-I3. Rotating contact I08 is connected to power bus 26 through a break contact C-III by conductor I18 and rotating contact I06 is similarly connected to power bus 26 through make contact C-II by conductor I16. Break contact C-Ill is normally closed and is opened by relay R-3 when that relay is energized. Make contact C-II is normally open and is closed by relay Rr-3 when that relay is energized.

. Interposed in the connections to the various rotating contacts are suitable slip rings and brushes to permit the proper rotation of the various rotating parts and at the same time maintain electrical connection. Similarly suitable mountings and bearings are provided for the various rotating shafts. Inasmuch as these parts are well known and their structural details form no part of the present invention they are not described herein in detail.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure l, but two decades and a plus-minus selector are shown. Thus, mechanism associated with the upper portion of the shaft 321 provides a .units count while the mechanism associated with the upper portion of the shaft 64 provides a tens count. The mechanism associated with the upper portion of shaft I64 provides a plus-minus selection. If a higher count is desired, additional decades, identical to the tens decade associated with shaft 64 together with an additional control mechanism such as that at the bottom of shaft 32 or that at the bottom of shaft I64 may be added. Inasmuch as tacts resulting from the rotation of shaft II.

These figures are included to aid in an understanding of the operation of the device show in Figure 1 which will now be described.

The rotation of shaft I I will cause the various rotating contacts to engage different fixed output contacts. Output leads are provided from each fixed output contact, as shown. These output leads are connected to a suitable indicating device, calculator or tabulator and by means of an electric current supply a digitized count of the angular rotation of the shaft II. In Figure 1, the position of the rotating contacts represents the condition which will exist when the shaft II has rotated just less than 20 revolutions. As seen, the leading rotating contact 36 is engaging the fixed output contact 0 whereas the trailing rotating contact 38 is engaging the fixed output .contactB. At the outset, that is prior to any rotation of the shaft I I, the leading rotating con tact 36 will engage the fixed output contact II while the trailing rotating contact 38 will engage the fixed output contact 9. As the shaft II rotates through one revolution leading rotating contact 36 will engage fixed output contact I while trailing rotating contact 38 will engage fixed output contact 0. Similarly, as shaft II rotates through two revolutions, rotating contacts 36 and 38 will engage fixed output contacts I and 2 respectively. In Figure l, shaft II has rotated nearly 20 revolutions. At exactly 19 revolutions, rotating contacts 36 and 38 would engage fixed contacts 8 and 8 respectively while at 20 revolutions the rotating contacts would engage fixed contacts 9 and 0. As shown in Figure l, fixed output contact 9 is being engaged by trailing rotating contact 38 while fixed output contact 6 is being engaged by leading rotating contact 36. Whether the supply of current flows through the output lead of fixed contact 9 or the output lead of fixed contact 0 providing thereby a count corresponding to 9 or 0 depends upon the condition of the contacts C-I and. C4. These contacts are controlled by relay R-I which in turn is controlled by the position of rotating control contact I2 relative to fixed control contact I4. Thus, when rotating control contact I2 is engaging fixed control contact I4, relay R-I will be energized. Relay R-I, when so energized, will open the contact C-I and close the contact C-2 with the result that the supply of current will now through the output lead from fixed output contact 0. On the other hand, when, as shown in Figure 1, the rotating control contact I2 is not engaging the fixed control contact I 4, the relay R-I will not be energized with the result that contact C-I will be closed whereas contact C-2 will be open. Under such conditions, the current will flow through the output leads from fixed output contact 9. A seen, the fixed control contact I4 extends about the shaft II. The spaced relationship between the fixed control contact I4, the fixed output contacts 9 and II and the rotating contacts 36 and 38 is such that at each complete revolution of the rotating shaft II, the rotating control contact I2 will just enease the leading edge of fixed control contact I4 and rotating contacts 36 and 38 will each be engaging successive adjacent fixed output contacts. At this point, due to the energizing of relay R-I, the circuit including rotating contact 36 is activated while that of rotating contact 38 is open and the output count represented by current flow in the output leads is digitally increased by one unit. As the shaft II rotates an additional 180, the rotating control contact I2 will reach the trailing edge of the fixed control contact I4. At this time the rotating contacts 36 and '38 will both engage the same fixed output contact as shown in Figure 3. When the rotating control contact I2 leaves the fixed control contact I4, the relay R-l will be de-energized, the break contact C-I will close and the make contact 0-2 will open with the result that the output current will flow through the circuit of rotating contact 38. This condition will continue until the shaft I I has rotated another 180 after which the rotating control contact I2 will again engage the fixed control contact I4. It should be noted that at the one-half revolution point, that is, when the rotating control contact l2 just leaves the'trailing edge of the fixed control contact I4 thereby deenergizing the relay Pv-l, both rotating contacts 36 and 38 are engaging the same fixed output contact;- and? no change in; routput-= county will result;

It is thus; seen thatby. meanszof the-fixed and rotating control contactsithe spaceirotating ccnz tacts 3. 6; and .33 andthe fixed output contact.sea merits, the output of the units decade: ,w-illalways be digitized. That i ldue to the operation of s the relay 13-1 on themake and break; cont-acts 63-2 and (3-2 output current. will ,flow .through grbut one output lead for any angular. position, of: the

1 rotating shaft it. Thus the ang lar rotation of the, condition of the counter whentheshaftj! has rotatedbetween 19. and 2oureyol-utions. Figure-2 is thesameasFigure 1 except thatthe shaft. I: I has now rotated very slightly imerethan 20i-revo1utions. In Figure 3 the shaft i- -l has-1'10- tated approximately oneehalf revolution from its positionillustrated in Figure i, being between-2'5") and 21. revolutions. Referring first to Figure l, whereiuthe; shaft: H is just, approaching the start of; its 20th.- revolution, the countof the device is seen to be, 19'. Thus, the rotating contacts (island-H areengagingnxed-output contacts to and 20; respcctiyely, Output current is, how,- ever flowingonly inithe. lead: from fixed output contact l0, Referring ,to the control contacts 4.8n5l; andct atthe, lower end of shaft 32,;i-t-

will brnoted that; rotating control contact; 46 is engaging fixed, control contact 48; This; willnot, however,- energize; relay R-Z inasmuchlascmahe contact- C-3 is open. Aspreviously. deseirbed, make contact C-3 is controlled by relay 13,-! which relay isnot energized duringthe-latter portion of the 9 count Since relay t-.2 is not en zed,.ma z nt ct. is n and-brea contact 0-6 is closed with the result thatcurnent willflow through conductor 14 and'the output lead from fixed output contactlE!.-t Reierring now toFigure 2, wherein the shaftll has just reached its 20th revolution, it is seen that-rotating control contactllt is still engag-ingz-fixed control .contactuiflrr However, rotating control? contact .l2;on shaftilhas now engaged fined control-contact 14, energizing relay: 3-! which closes -make,1contactC-3. The closing of; make contact 0-3 energizes the relay fl-l through break-contact 0-! which is closedforopositiver rotations of shaft ll. R-Z in :turn; opens; the breakcontact (3-6 and closes the make contact 0-5. Output current now flows through conductorlz andvthe output lead of output contact 1201 and the indicated count has increased one decade. :zReierring now. .to Figured; wherein the shaft II has rotated; approximately; 203/ revo1utions,. it is seen that: rotating; control contact lc-is now engaging fixed; controlzcontact fil. Make contact 0-3 is thereby my-passed with. the result that thecondition of the'rela'y R-i no longer affects the count of the tensidecadeuil In the embodiment of the invention'illustrated in Figures 1- through 3, the size. and spacings hetween thefixed-output contacts in.- the-. tens" decadeis identical to thosefor'the units decade. similarly the size-and spacing between the rotating contacts 68.;and- H are identical: to those for the rotating contacts 35 and; 38.- Thus sthe position of the; rotating contacts Ethanol" ll relative to the variouswfixed-output contacts as-the shaft. is revolved is the same as that heretog tore-:describedwithrelation togthe, units decade. Thus; when; the shaft It has: rotated, through five units or oneshalfdecade,- both: rotating con,-

tacts 63;;and-ll will engage the same fixedroutput contact; Further; it is seen; that the relationship between the control :mechanism including. fixed control-contactsdo and SI and rotating control contact 1 3,6 to -the decade output mechanism sis the same: as the relationship between the control mechanismv including fixedcontrol contact I 4 and-rotating control contact I2 to'the units output rnechanisn'l. The decades positive control mechanism (contacts 323; 48, and 5 l differs from the UIIitS QOIIGIOIf mechanism (contacts l2 and I4.) onlyin; the addition. ofthe fixedcontrol corrtact-ll8i- This addedcontact is required to-insure that the decade transferis controlled-by the units. transferfrom- 9 to 0 for positive counts. The tensdecade minus control-mechanism. (contacts 41,, 49;; and 53) dilfers from the tens decade positive control mechanism-lonly invthat; the position-oi the tens; decade -transfer control is displaced by one clockwise rotation ofyshaf t ll, that 'is by..one positive count, the reason for which willbe described/hereinafter;

The. operation of I the plus-minus count, which is very similar to thatof the tens countwill now 'be' described. As shownin Figure -l-, rotating con,-

trol contact M6 is engaging fixed control contact [5! with the result; that current can; flow from power bus 26 to 'fixed'output contact I5 I throug-h rotating contact?! 46 andthrough conductor I 54 to relay ma -thereby energizing elayIB-Si. Re-

lay R-S- when'energized will open break-contact 6-! c and close make contact 6-! I causing current to ijlow through; conductor 1,16 and theoutput lead-fromiixed; plus contact I12. Current will thereforeflow through plus relay R-l 2 energizing that relay. Inasmuch as the operation of the plus minus control mechanism (contacts I46; lAB-and 1.51) 'is similiar to that of thestens positive control mechanism (contacts afi, El: and UEM andasminus operation-will befurther. ex plained herein, furtherexplanation of the plusminus control is deemed unnecessary. I

In order to, explain the minuscountr feature of :the embodiment: of the invention illustrated in 'Figuresl throughe, let it be assumed thatthe shaft. has rotated innegative or counterclockwise-direction :19 revolutions from its position shown in Figural; At-this time the total positive or clockwise rotation of the shaft i I will, be slightly less than. one revolution. The rotating control contact}? 'willhe adjacent to but not ongaging :the fixed control contact t4, rotating control contact .fifiz-willvengage fixed-control contact 5i; rotating controlcontact ii-will engagefixcd engage fixed output-contact l, trailing rotating contact 38; will engag -fixed output contactt, trailing rotating contact if will engage fixed output contacts-9U, leading rotating .contactrtii will engage fixedcutput contactfiit rotating control contact: M6 will engage fixed control-contact #58, leading rotating contact liifiiwill engagenxed plus contact I72; trailing rotating contactiiltwill engagefixed ninus contact H4; l'telays R12, 3-3,

7 and; i 2 will 1 be energized. Contacts; Q-i (1-5,

control contact t8, leadingrotating contact ,will

from each fixed output contact.

cator, calculator or tabulator.

contacts. tacts, not shown, associated with the relays R-I2 and R-I3. When relay R-I2 is energized the in- I l C-T, (3-9 and C-II will be closed. The supply of current will flow through the output leads of output contacts 6, 60, and plus fixed contact I12 providing a count of 0.

Next let it be assumed that the shaft II has reached its initial or starting position. At this time rotating control contact I2 will engage the leading edge of fixed control contact l4, leading rotating contact 36 will engage fixed output contact 0, trailing rotating contact 38 will engage fixed output contact 9, rotating control contact 41 will be disengaged, rotating control contact 46 will engage fixed control contact 48, leading rotating contact 68 will engage fixed output contact 06, trailing rotating contact II will engage fixed output contact 90-, rotating control contact I46 will engage fixed control contact I48, leading rotating contact I06 will engage fixed plus contact I12, and trailing rotating contact I08 will engage fixed minus contact I14. and R-I2 will be energized. Contacts (3-2, C-3,

-5, C-'I, C-8, C-9 and C-II will be closed. The supply of current will fiow through the output leads of output contacts I], 60, and plus fixed contact I72 for a count of 0. Next assume that shaft II has rotated in a clockwise or negative direction a fraction of one rotation with the result that rotating control contact I2 has disengaged fixed control contact I4. At this time relays R-I R-2, R-3 and R-IZ are deenergized and relay R-I3 is energized. Contacts C-I, (3-6 and C-IU will be closed. The supply of current will flow through the output leads of output contacts 9, 96,

and fixed minus contact I14. In a manner which will now be explained, the counter will provide a minus 1 count.

As previously stated, output leads are provided These output leads are normally connected to a suitable indi- In order to use the embodiment of the counter illustrated in Fig ures 1 through 3, for indicating negative rotations of the shaft I I it is necessary to reidentify each of the output leads from the fixed output This is accomplished by means of condicated count corresponds to the numbering given 'each fixed output contact in Figures 1 through 3. On the other hand, when a minus count exists and minus relay R-I3 is energized the indicator count is bymeans of suitable contacts altered such that fixed output contact 9 when energized,

' provides a 1 count, fixed output contact 8 provides The only units indication which remains unchanged is that provided by fixed output contact 6. The indicated count from the tens a 2 count, etc.

decade is reidentified such that the fixed output j contact 90 provides a 00 indication, fixed output contact 80 provides a 10 indication, etc., with fixed output contact 00 providing a 90 indication. With such reidentification, resulting from the energizing of minus relay R-I 3, the device shown in Figures 1 through 3 will provid a digitized count for negative or counterclockwise rotation 0f the shaft I I in a manner similar to that previ ously described for positive or counterclockwise shaft rotations.

Inasmuch as the various fixed output contacts,

when energized, provide a different indication Relays R-I, R.-2, Rr-3 ative rather than positive counts exist. Thus, for positive counts, the tens transfer must occur as the count passes from 9 to 0. As previously explained this occurs when rotating control contact I2 engages fixed control contact I4 and leading rotating contact 36 is engaging fixed output contact 0 with trailing rotating contact 38 engaging fixed output contact 9. For negative shaft'rotation, if the tens transfer is to occur as the minus count changes from 9 to 0, such transfer must be effectuated by rotating control contact l2 engaging the leading edg of fixed control contact I4 when leading rotating contact 36 is engaging fixed output contact I and trailing rotating contact-38 is engaging fixed output contact 0. In the device shown in Figures 1 through 3, this is accomplished in the following manner. Since for negative counts, minus relay R-I3 is energized and plus relay R-IZ is deenergized, break contact 0-! is open with the result that rotating control contact 46 is no longer effective in energizing relay R-2 and thereby causing the tens transfer. However, for minus counts, rotating control contact 41, which is by-passed for positiv counts, is effective for energizing relay R-2 and thereby causing the tens transfer in the following manner. When the rotating shaft II has rotated so that rotating control contact I2 engages fixed output contact I4, and leading rotating contact 36 engages the fixed output contact I, then rotating control contact 41 will be engaging fixed control contact 49. Relay R-I being energized, contact C-B will be closed and current will flow from power bus 26 through conductor 24, through contact C-8, through conductor 55, through fixed control contact 49, through rotating control contact 41, and through conductor 54, energizing relay Rr2. As previously explained, when the shaft II has rotated approximately 10 revolutions, rotating contacts 68 and II will each engage adjacent fixed output contacts on the tens decade and therefore, when the circuit to rotating contact 68 is closed by make contact 0-5 operated by relay R-2 and the circuit to rotating contact II is opened a tens transfer will occur. Thus, for minus counts, the tens transfer occurs as output current is transferred from fixed output contacts 0 to I or I to I] depending upon the direction of rotation of the shaft I I.

While there is illustrated only a units and tens decade and a plus-minus selector, it is apparent that additional decades may be added as desired. Thus, a hundreds decade, in all respects identical to the tens decade may be employed. The control mechanism for such hundreds decade will be the same as the tens decade positive control mechanism with the result that the tens decade will control the transfer of the hundreds decade.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 through 3, an interruption of the power and current to power bus 26 would cause the failure of output current to fiow. However, upon the restoration of current and power to power bus 26, the position of the various rotating contacts would cause the correct relays to be energized, which in turn Would produce the correct decade transfer and permit output current to fiow in the output leads attached to the correct fixed output contacts. Thus a power interruption would not affect the accuracy of any counts provided after the power has been restored. Further, since the device is operated directly from a direct current power source indicated by the power busses 2| and 26,11: will in no way be affected 1 5 after-contact I-I2, operated by the same relay, is closed. Contact E-I is a make contact, normally open, which is closed by relay R-I when the latter is energized. -In like manner contact E4 is a make contact closed by relay R2, contact E-3 is a make contact closed by relay R-3, contact E4 is a make contact closed by relay R-4, and contact 1-5 is a make contact closed by relay R5. Rotating contact II is connected to power bus 2 6 through a group of parallel contacts E-S through E-9. In parallel with these contact are an additional pair of series connected contacts E-n and E-I3. Contact E- is a make contact which is normally open but is closed by relay R-5 when that relay is energized. Similarly, contact E-B is closed by relay R-6, contact E-I is closed by relay R-'I, contact 13-8 is closed by relay R-8, and contact E-9 is closed by relay R-9 while contact E-0 is closed by relay R-0. Contact E-I3 is closed by the minus relay R-I 3 before break contact LI 3 is opened when relay R-IS is energized.

Each of the fixed output contacts 00 through 90 in the tens decade is connected to the power bus 2| through a separate relay. These relays are indicated as R-00 through R40, the subscripts identifying each with its related fixed output contact.

Referring now to the hundreds decade shown in Figure 4, it is seen that this decade is very similar to the tens decade hereinabove described. Thus, a gear system 85 connected to shaft 64 rotates shaft 88 at a speed one-tenth that of shaft 64. Carried by shaft 88 is a trailing rotating contact 92 and a leading rotating contact 94. These rotating contacts are adapted to engage a plurality of fixed output contacts 000 through 900. The spacing between each adjacent fixed output contact is greater than the width of either rotating contact 92 or. rotating contact 94 with the result that neither of these rotating contacts can simultaneously engage two adjacent fixed contacts. The spacing between rotating contacts 92 and 94 is less than the width of the fixed output contacts 000 through 900 with the result that both rotating contacts 92 and 94 may simultaneously engage any of the fixed output contacts. The relationship between rotating contacts 92 and 94 and rotating contacts 68 and II of the tens decade is such that when the tens count is changing from 90 to 00, that is, when rotating contacts 68 has engaged fixed output contact 00 and rotating contact 'II has engaged fixed output contact 90, then rotating contact 94 will be engaging one fixed output contact of the hundreds decade while rotating contact 92 will engage the preceding fixed contact of such decade. Thus, as the tens count is changing from 90 to 00, the hundreds count will be transferring to the next higher hundred count. Each fixed output contact of the hundreds decade is connected to the power bus 2| through an individual relay. These relays are identified with the fixed output contact to which they relate by the appropriate subscript. in addition, each of the fixed output contacts is connected to the freeze bus 82 through a pair of make contacts, identified as C and F with the appropriate subscript. Thus, fixed output con tact 000 is connected to freeze bus 82 through make contacts (3-000 and F-000 and fixed output contact I00 is so connected through make contacts C-I00 and F-I00. The C contacts are normally open and are closed by the relays R. Thus, contact C-000 will be closed when R-800 is energized and contact 0-1 00 will be closed when relay R-I00 is energized. Each of the F contacts is 16 normally open and will be closed by the freeze relay R-II. When relay R-II is energized; the entire group of contacts, F-000 through F-900 will be closed.

Rotating contact 94 is connected to power bus 26 by conductor 96 through a group of relay operated contacts E-00 through E and 1-50. Similarly, rotating contact 92 is connected to power bus 26 by conductor 98 through relay operated contacts E- through E-90. Each of these contacts is make contact, that is, it is normally open, but is closed when the particular relay by which it is operated is energized. These contacts are operated by the relay R-00 through R- of the tens decade and each contact is identified with the particular relay by which it is operated by the appropriate subscript. Thus, contact E-00 will be closed by relay R-00, contact E-I0 will be closed by relay R-I0, etc. Relay R-50 operates both contact 1-50 and contact E50, closing these contacts when the relay is energized.

At the right hand portion of Figure 4 is shown the plus-minus selector circuit. As seen, this circuit is quite similar to each of the decades heretofore described. A gear system indicated generally as I02 is connected to shaft 88 and is utilized to drive a shaft I04. The gear system I02 is such that the shaft I04 will be driven at a lower speed than shaft 88. Unlike the three decades previously described, however, the stepdown ratio of the gear system I02 is not critical. For reasons which will hereinafter become apparcut, this ratio may vary from a slightly over two to ten to one with satisfactory results. The system shown in Figure 4 utilizes a four-to-one step-down which has been found very satisfactory in operation. Connected to the shaft I04 is a leading rotating contact I06 and a trailing rotating contact I08 adapted to engage a plus fixed contact H0 and a minus fixed contact II2. The spacing between fixed contacts H0 and II2 is greater than the width of either rotating contact I06 or I08 with the result that neither rotating contact can simultaneously engage both fixed tacts 92 and 94 of the hundreds decade is such that at a count in the neighborhood of zero, at

which time the rotating contact 94 will engage the fixed output contact 000 and the rotating contact 92 will engage the fixed output contact 900, rotating contact I08 will engage minus fixed .contact II2 and rotating contact I06 will engage plus fixed contact I I0. Further, the gear ratio of system I02 is such that before the hundreds decade has reached a count of plus 500, both rotating contacts I06 and I08 will engage plus fixed contact IIO. Similarly, before a count of minus 500 has been reached, both rotating contacts I06 and I08 will have engaged fixed minus contact I I2. In addition, the'length of fixed contacts H0 and II 2 and the gear ratio of gear system I02 must be such that at the maximum count, either plus or minus, of the device the rotating contacts I06 and I08 have not rotated a sufiicient amount so as to disengage the appropriate fixed plus or minus contact. As seen, fixed plus contact H0 is connected to power bus 2| through a break contact 1-900 and a plus relay R-I2. Similarly, fixed minus contact I I2 is connected to 7 power-"bus- 2 through breakcontact k000 and minus: relay R-l-3 Break contact I=-900- is normally closed being opened by relay R-900 of the Make contact t2 is normally open; being closed byrelay Rm when that relay is energized. Make contact C43 is; closed" byrelay R.-l3- when that relayis energized. Freeze contact'sF' l-Z and F-l 3 are operated by the freeze relay R-lt being closed: when that relay is energized; As; seen; rotating contact I06 is connected to power-bus. 25 by a conductor H4 and a group of parallel make cOntactsE-UOU through El -405) and rotating contact I08 is similarly connected, to power bus 25' by'conductor H6 through a group of." makeicontacts 3-500 through E-900. The. make contacts Ill-000' through E4900- are normally open and. are operated, by the groupv of relays associated? with the hundreds decade. Thus, contactE-000is closed by relay R7000. when that relay is energized; Similarly contact. E'-|-007 is operated. by relay R400, contact E400 is operated by relay 3-200, etc.

The operation of. the. device illustrated in Figure 4. is similar to that shown in. Figures 1' through Thus, the. rotation of, the, shaft Ii (not, shown. in. Figure 4) will cause, the rotation o1v shafts. 32, 64;. '8 andv 04., As these shafts rotate-the. rotating contacts associated with. them.

will rotate and a digitized; count 3 inv the form of electrical impulses, corresponding tov the number of. revolutions of the shaft l I. will be provided by the. fixed output contacts of each decade engagedby the rotating, contacts ofthat decade. Further there areno r otatingparts subjected to. intermittent. motion or high angular. accelerations and the torque required. to rotate the. shaft. is constant,.irrespective o fthe shaft position Thus. the. shafts may rotateat very high. speeds Without causing mechanical failure. I

Unlike the. device shown in Figures 1,, 2 and 3,, however, the-fixed output contacts. or, each decade. do. not directly supply output currentto. the: indicating circuit with which the. deviceis operated. Rather associated with plus relay E12,. minus relay R42, and: with the relays. ofeach decade, that is, relays Rh-0 through R-B, relays R-Gli through lit-90, and relays. R7000. through R400, and operated thereby, are a. corresponding series. of make contacts which. are utilized to. energize the;v proper digital indication in the indicator circuit. For example,- reierring. to theunits portion of. the-indicatorgwhen. the relay R.5. and. the.

plus relay R42 are energized these relays will operate to: close, contacts in. the indicator which. will. cause-v plus five count. indication. In addition, to prevent a double indication in the indicator. circuit employed when. the rotating. contact.

'l'disibridging. two fixed output contacts, as shown Figure 4,. an additional; break contact is provided in the, five-count. circuit. of the. indicator which. is. maintained. in anl open, condition when.

the. relay R4. is. energized. Inasmuch as. relay operated indicator circuitsof this type are-well known. and since the particular indicator, tabulator or. calculator to be used in conjunction with the'devi'ce' of the present invention formsno part of such invention itwill not be described herein in any detail.

In Figure 4 the position of the rotating contacts represents the" condition which will exist when the shaft H has rotated in the; positive or, counterclockwise direction between 614 and 615 revolutions. As seen, the. rotating Contact 15. of the units: decade is" therefore engaging both fixed output contacts 4 and 5: Relays- RF-fi and R-5 are: therefore energized and. as above-explained; the indicating circuit used" in conjunc tion with the device will provide a four c'ount: Due to the fact that relays B4 and R41 are energized, make contacts E-'-5, L5" and. E4 will be closed. Two closed circuits, from power bus 23 to fixed output contact to are; therefore provided, one. through'conductor' 86 and the other through. conductor 84', which lead; to rotating: contacts 68' and: H', both of which; are engaging the fixed output contact I0. Relay'R-ifi'will be thereby energized; The energizing oi re1'ay-l3';-|0

will provide. a ten-count indication for the; indicator. Relay R-l0being energized; make con,- tact i i-Hi. will be closed; This will provide a closed. circuit for current flow from the; power-- bus 2.5 through conductor: 90 to leading rotating;- contact S 33 which, as shown,. is engaging fixedoutput contact sec; The current fiiowfrom power bus, zewill then energize relay lit-500; which in turn will provide a 6 06 countfor the indicator used. It will= be observed in Figure 41 that trailing rotating contact 92 is engagingfixed output contact, 50.0; Inasmuch; however, as the make contacts E-Fpt through, ill-00 are open,. no current can flow from the power bus through the rotating contact, 92* and: the relay R iifit" will not be energized;

It will be observed that. inasmuch as-the inputrotating shaft ll hasjrotatedin the counterclockwise or positive. direction, a considerable. number ofrevoluti'ons, both rotating contacts I08 and' 'lfitj are. engaging. the fixed contact. H0; of,"

the pl'usmi'nus selector. Since. the make con- I tactEf-litfl will be closed by the energized relay R -6ll't; -current. will flow. from the power bus 26' through the conductor H6}, energizing the plus. relay R42. Suitable contacts operated by the relay R42. are provided in the indicator to show a positive count when relay" H.425. is energized-L.

In the event it is desired to freeze a particular reading, so as to provide sufficient time to take.

such; reading without otherwise, disturbing the I operation of the device, freeze switch [5,. is closed.

This. energizes relay R-lll. which in turn closes,

each. of the make contacts; l -l3 through F-Q; F-ilii through E 90, F-llilll' through F4300, F43 and li'llzj. Referring again to the units decade;

, as above described. for the count indicated: in

Figure l, the relay R-Awill be. energized; This williclj'ose the. make contact Cfi and provide an, additional closed circuit from the power bus 20 through the. switch. T5, through the new cllQSed contact F- i and through the closed'contact G 4. As herein above described; freeze relay B-H will first closev the various, make contacts indicated. by the letter F and will then open the break Contact sit. with the result that current can n longer flow through. that poiffiijon, v of the power; bus followinggcontact 81... It is; therefore. an parent. that. the. relay 84-4" will; remainenergized so.- long. as. the freezeswitch 15. is. closed and that the posit-ion, of the rotating, contact 1J6. will have. no. effect whatever upon ,theindieatedlco nt..

For the particular count sh'own'in'Figure'4; both relays R-4 and R-5 will be energized but, as previously explained, the indicator will show only the four count. When the rotating contact 15 rotates so as to simultaneously engage the fixed output contacts 5 and B, it is apparent that were it not for the rectifier D-5, current could flow from the power bus 25, through switch 75, through contact F-5, through contact C-5, through the fixed output contact 5, through the rotating contact 16 and through the fixed output contact 6 to the relay R-E energizing such relay. Similarly, all of the relays of the units decade would be energized as the rotating contact 16 rotates. Each of these relays would remain energized so long as the freeze switch 15 were held closed, and the units count supplied to the indicator would be meaningless. In order to prevent this occurrence, the rectifiers D- through D-B are provided. Referring again to Figure 4, as above described, the contacts F- and C-5 are closed. Current cannot fiow to the fixed contact 5, however, due to the presence of the rectifier D-5. Similarly, when the rotating contact 16 has rotated so as to simultaneously engage fixed output contacts 3 and 4, while contacts C-4 and F-4 are closed, current cannot flow to the fixed output contact 3 due to the presence of the rectifier D-3. It will be observed that the presence of these rectifiers in no way affects the normal operation of the device when the freeze circuit is not being employed inasmuch as the direction of current then will be such that the current will pass readily through the rectifiers. No rectifiers are utilized for the tens or hundreds decades. They are unnecessary in such decades inasmuch as the widths of the rotating contacts therein are insufiicient to simultaneously engage adjacent fixed output contacts.

In order to explain the tens transfer of the device shown in Figure 4, let it be assumed that the rotating contact I6 has advanced in a counterclockwise direction so that it is bridging fixed output contacts 9 and 0. At this time both relays R-9 and R-0 will be energized. This will close make contacts E-B, E-0 and 1-0. Further, break contacts I-9 and G-0 will be opened. A closed circuit is thereby provided from the power bus 26 through the make contact E-9, through the conductor 86 to the rotating contact II and the relay R-I 0 will remain energized. The spacing is such that when the fixed contact 16 has advanced so as to simultaneously engage the fixed contacts 9 and 0, the rotating contact 60 will have engaged the next higher tens output contact. Thus in the example under discussion, the rotating contact II will engage the fixed output contact I0 while the rotating contact 68 will have engaged the fixed output contact 20. Relay R-20, however, will not be energized inasmuch as break contact I-& will be held open so long as relay R4 is energized. Thus but a single tens count will be supplied. As the rotating contact I6 advances so as to engage only the fixed output contact 0, the relay R-B will no longer be energized and break contact 1-9 will close. While make contact E-D will be closed by relay R-0, current cannot flow through conductor 85 to rotating contact II inasmuch as make con: tact E-I3, which is operated by the minus relay R-I3, will be opened. A closed circuit will be formed, however, from power bus 26 through make contact I-0, make contact I-IZ, which, as previously explained, is held closed during positive counts by plus relay R-I2, break contact 1-9 and through conductor 84 to rotating contact 68. Relay R-20then will be energized and a twenty count will be supplied to the indicator.-

Thus as the rotating contact I6 advances from fixed output contact 9 to fixed output contact 0, the tens count changes from ten to twenty.

The transfer of the hundreds decade is similar to that just described for the tens decade. Assuming, for example, that the shaft II in Figure 4 has rotated in a counterclockwise direction between 699 and 700 revolutions, the rotating contact I6 will simultaneously engage fixed output contacts 0 and 9, the rotating contact 68 will engage fixed output contact 00, the rotating contact 1| will engage fixed output contact 90, rotating contact 94 will engage fixed output contact I00 and rotating contact 92 will engage fixed output contact 600. At this time make contacts E-t0 through E40 and 1-50 will be open with the result that relay R400 will not be energized. On the other hand, make contact E- will be closed and relay R-600 will be energized with the result that the hundreds decade will supply a six hundred count. When the. shaft II has advanced to a fullseven hundred revolutions, relay R-9 will no longer be energized with the result that make contacts E-9 will open and break contact 1-9 will close. Current will no longerfiow to fixed output contact 90 and relay R-90 will not be energized. On the other hand, current will fiow through the conductor 04 to the fixed output contact 00 and relay 12-00 will be energized. This in turn will close make contact E-00 and open make contact E-90 with the result that current will flow through the conductor 90 to the fixed output contact I00, which, at this time, will have been engaged by the rotating contact 94. No current will flow through the conductor 98 and the rotating contact 92 to the fixed output 600 with the result that relay R-600 will not be energized.

In order to explain the minus count feature of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 4, let it be assumed that the direction of rotation of the shaft II has been reversed and that the shaft has rotated in a clockwise direction approximately 614 revolutions from its position shown in Figure 4. At this time the total positive, or counterclockwise rotation of the shaft I I will be less than one revolution. Atthis time the rotating contact 10 will be simultaneously engaging fixed contacts I and 0, rotating contact 68 will engage fixed output contact 00, rotating contact II will engage fixed output contact 90, rotating contact 94 will engage fixed output contact 000, rotating contact 92 will engage fixed output contact 900, rotating contact I08 will engage fixed minus contact II2 and rotating contact I06 will engage fixed plus contact IIO. Relays 0 and I will be energized, relay 00 will be energized, relay 000 will be energized and plus relay R-I2 will be energized. Next, let it be assumed that the shaft II has reached its initial or starting position. At this time the rotating contact I6 will be engaging the fixed output contact 0 only and the relays Rr-0, R-00, R-000 and R-I2 will be energized. Relay R-I3 will not beenergized, despite the fact that rotating contact I08 will engage fixed minus contact II2, inasmuch as make contacts E-5'iIl through E-900 will be open. Next, assume that shaft ll has rotated in a clockwise or negative direction a fraction of one rotation with the result that rotating contact 16 simulataneouslv engages fixed output contacts 0 and 9. At this time relays R- -0,

R-9, 3-90, R-900 and minus relay R-I3 are encamera 21 ergizcd. Plus relay R lic will? no: longer be; em. ergized inasmuch. I as: makacontacts El -Mn" through E400 are. open. Ina manner Which-Willi now be explained,. the device... in such. position. will provide. a. minus; 1. count.

As previously stated, a. suitablerindicaton cir;-' cuit may-be. employed. in connection with. the. device illustrated in Figure. 4.. The various relays. 121-0 through R:-9,. R-Eil. throughsRi-ilfli and fir-0.00. through R-Slliloperate a corresponding series: of make contacts whichv energize the proper: digit iiu dication in such indicator circuit. Thus; whena ositive count existsgrelayR-I closes a make; con. tact in the indicator circuit whichresults in an indicatedv count. of 1.. other relays in each decade. when, energized; res suits in the proper indicated count on; the indie cator. For reasons which. will now becexplainedi. toprovide; a minus countitis necessary to. reidene tify' each of the; decade relays: with. the indicator count. This is accomplished: by: means: of; the plus-minus relays R-IZ and Pi -l3. When relay R IZ is energized the indicated. count corresponds to the numbering given each decade: relay in Figure 4. On the other hand, when atminus count exists and minus relay R-l-3 is energized the indicator count is, by means of suitable con-- tactsaltered such that relay R--9, when energized, provides a 1 co nt, relay R-fi provides: a2 count, relay R-I: provides a 3 count. etc... The only units indication which remains unchanged is that. provided by relay Rl,.wh-ich-, at all times, provides a indicated" count. The indicated count from the tens decade is re-identified such that the relay R-Qll provides a 00 indication, relay R-Bil: pro-- vides a. 10 indication, relay R48 provides air-2. indication, etc, with relay: RAH; providing a 9i); indication. Similarly, in the hundreds decade, the relay R-900 provides a 000 indicatioli.the relay R-Siit provides a 100* indication, etc; With such re-identification, resulting from the energiz ing of minus relay R-l.3, the device shown inFig'. 4 will provide a digitized count for clockwise rotation of the shaftv i l in a manner similar to that previously described for counterclockwise: shaft" rotations.

Inasmuch as the various decade relays,v when energized, provide a different indication Orr-the: indicator when clockwise or negative. shaft rota.- tions are measured than. when. counterclockwise: or positive shaft, rotations are. measured, it is-apparent that some means be provided to c fectuate. the tensv transfer at. a different position when neg-- ative rather than positive counts exist. Thus, for: positive counts, the'tens transfer must. occur; as; the count passes from 9 to Q. .As previously err-- plained, this occurs when rotating contact [6. passes from fixed. output contact 9; to: fixed. cute putcontact 8. tens transfer is to occur as the count changes from 9 to 0,. such transfer mustbeefiectuated'. by rotating contact it passing from fixed output: contact I to 9. In the. device shown: in.- Fig. 45... this is accomplished in the following; manner. Since, for. negative counts, minusrelay Pct-i3 is.- energized and plus relay lFt-tZ. is: tie-energized, make. contact, E46. will be closed. whereas; makecontact. 1-1.2 will be open. with the; result: that; when relay Rho is: energized. and make. contacts. E-li and no are both. closed, rotating.- contact El-j rather than rotating Contact: 68. is: energized. :"AS;

Similarly, each 1 of the- For negative shaft rotation, if the:

previously explained, as. the shait l I. has rotated.

approximately ten revolutions; rotating; contacts 68. and. 'H. will each engage. adjacent fixed output.

. zero count.

the. indicator-associated with the, counting do 22:. thcsclrcuiti to rotating" contact 11 is: closed and thexcircuit to rotating contacts68=isopen a tens transfer will. occur. Thus, for minus counts, the tens transfer occurs as the rotating contact 16 passes from fixed output: contactl to fixed output contact. 0. As rotating contact-1:6 passes these fixed. output contacts, it will simultaneously ongage: both;v In order to prevent a double tens decadezindication, whichzwould. result if both rotatingcontacts'BB and H: were simultaneously energized. break: contact. G'; l: is provided; As soon: as: rotating contact! lfirengages fixed output contact; 0,. energizing. relay R il, break contact GMli'wi'll open, opening-the circuit to. rotating.

' contactfill with theresult that. during the decade.

transfer rotating contacts 68 and HE cannot both beenergized at the=same time.

The transiersin the hundreds decade is identicoal for" positive: and negative counts and there-- foreneed not againbe described.

seen,;the-. device. illustrated in Fig. .4 has but a single zero output contact but: can be used for both positive and negative counts. This factor is one. of the; important features. of the invention j and. results inv a. device which is considerably more accurate than the variousknown types of mechanical digital. counters. In such mechanical counters: in. order to provide a: tens transfer at thei'proper count, it: is: necessary to use-a double Thus, it. is necessary to effectuate the. tens: transfer between 9 and 0. but; in order to provideboth' positive and; negative counts, and at the, same time to' effectuate: the decade transfer at: thesame physical place. in the mechanical counter, the diiferent count identification for the positiveia-nd the negative counts requiresthe use of both aplus: zero-and. a minuezero- The pres enceof such double-zeroresults in an undesirable inaccuracy in that a. count indication of. zero Will'- resultfromwa shaft rotation of almost a full revo-- lution in either thezpositive. or the negative direction. A zero indication will therefore represent a shaft. position which can vary over substantially twocomplete. revolutions with the result that if a particular count;- be: either commenced or ended with a. zerocount an inaccuracy as great as two revolutions can exist; In the present invention, however, no such double zero exists with the resultv theta zero count occurs for but one revoluticn and the possible error for counts commenc ing or: ending with zero is but one-half as largeas that present in the mechanical type counters.

In counting: devices. for the type herein described; it is frequently desirable to limit themaximum number of shaftrevolution-s which will register upon the indicator. Thus, it frequently occurs that. data. obtained by the measurement. ot the; number of shaft revolutions becomes inaccurate-and unreliable after a certain hum:-

ber of such revolutions has been. exceeded. In

the embodiment of the. invention shown in Fig; 4", a, circuit is. provided to accomplish this TS? sult., As seen in Fig, 4,.there is provided a break contact. indicated as P909 which is normally in the. closed position. This contact is. operated by relay. hefillflihcingcopen. when. that relay is energized. 'Whcn contact Iii-fills isopen, plus.

relay R42 tie-energized, with the result that plus..-identiiication. oi; thelcount is stopped and vice no'longer indicates-.thacounn in. a lar; manner, a second break contact Lillie is pro-- vided to. cause the; counting device to become; contact o the tens.v .decadaancltherefore; when Miw QWB-WQ? Wh man: lk i iflfltfitmmsi 0.

negative shaft revolutions has occurred." Break contact I-000. is operated by relay R-000, being opened when that relay is energized. When this contact is open, minus relay R-lz becomes deenergized with the result that negative identification of the count is stopped and the indicator associated with the counting device no longer indicates the count. In the example shown in Fig. 4, the maximum counts are plus and minus 900 shaft revolutions. It is, of course, apparent that these values may be varied and the device rendered inoperative after any number of desired shaft revolutions in either the positive or negative direction. This is accomplished by substituting the break contacts 1-900 and I-000 with break contacts operated by the desired relays. Thus if it is desired to stop the count at, say 500 positive-revolutions a break contact operated by relay R-500 is connected in the place of 1-900. Similarly, if it is desired to stop the count at 200 negative revolutions, a break contact operated by relay R400 (such re lay being identified with a 200 count in the negative direction) is connected in the place of 1-000.

Regardless of the type of indicating device used with the counter shown in Fig. 4, it is essential that either relay R-I2 or R-I3 be energized so as to determine whether a positive or a negative count is provided. As is apparent, however, in the circuit shown in Fig. 4, if the counter is started at neither of these relays can be energized for the reason that neither the circuit to rotating contact 1| nor that to rotating contact 68 will be closed. Thus make contact E-I3 will be open and similarly make contact I-l2 will be open. The result will be that none of the relays in the tens decade will be energized. For this reason, none of the relays in the hundreds decade will be energized and no current can flow to the plus minus decade. This difficulty is overcome by the provision of a pair of starting bypass contacts G-l 2 and I-l3. Both of these are break contacts, being nor-. mally closed. As previously described, break contact G-l2 is designed to break after make contact I-l2 makes in order to prevent a momentary.

opening of the circuit to rotat ng contact 08. Similarly, break contact 1-1 3 is designed to break just after make contact E-l3 makes-in order to prevent a simultaneous momentary opening of the circuits to both rotating contacts 68 and II during a minus count. The break contacts G-IZ and 1-H provide a closed circuit to rotating contacts 68 and H and therefore serve as a starting bypass. When either relay R-IZ or R-I3 is energized, one or the other of these break contacts is open so that during the operation of the counter thev perform no function.

As previou ly described, a freezing circuit is provided in the counter shown in Fig. 4 whereby readings may be frozen and taken without disturbing the movement of the rotating parts or the operation of the counter. This is accomplished by the operator closing the switch 15 at the t me a re din is desired. The closing of switch 15 energizes freeze relay :R-ll which then closes the entire bank of'rnake contacts indicated by the letter F with the'appropriate subscri t and o ens the break contact 8| The count provided to the indicator-will, under such conditionsre'main unchanged. This count will; be determined by the particular relays in the units. tens and. hun reds de ades whi h are energized and which in turn close the make contracts-identified by-th'e letter-C -'with the appro- 24 priate'subscript, associated'therewith. Z'Siniila'rly', the appropriate plus or minus indication will be provided by the closing of either make contact C-I2 or C-l3. Due to the fact that break contact 8| is open, the circuits to each of the rotating contacts in each decade are open with the result that the indicated count cannot change. After the desired readings have been taken, switch I5 is open and the counter resumes its normal operation. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 4, an interruption of the power and current to power bus 26 would cause the deenergization of all relays, and the interruption of the indicated count. However. upon the restoration of' current and power to power bus 26. the position of the rotating contacts, I6, 68, H, 92, 94, I04, and I08 would cause the correct relays to be energized, which in'turn would produce the correct indicated count irrespective of the shaft rotation occurring during the current and power interruption.

The various electrical connections from power bus 26 to the relays which might otherwise cause erroneous counts are always kept open either by rotating contacts or by relay contacts with the result that electrical disturbances do not affect the count. Thus, unlike various electronic counters which have been proposed, common electrical disturbances will not cause spurious counts in counters embodying the above de-- scribed invention.

It is to be understood that the forms of the invention herewith shown and described are to be taken as preferred examples of the'same and that various modifications and changes may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. An electrical counter for digitally transla'trelay operated by each binary commutator to determine which of the pair of rotating contacts on the succeeding shaft is energized during transition of said rotating contacts from'one fixed output contact to the next, relays operated through said output contacts, and a. plurality of make and break contacts operated by the said relays according to the angular position of the said shafts whereby a digitized count in the form of electrical impulses representative of the angular position of the said input shaft is provided.

2. An electrical counter for digitally translating shaft rotations into electrical impulses including an input shaft, a second shaft geared thereto, a plurality of fixed output contacts, a pair of rotating contacts carried by the second mentioned shaft and adapted to successively engage the said fixed output geared to the said second shaft, a second plurality of fixed output contacts, a second pair of rotating contacts carried by the said third shaft and adapted to successively engage the said sec-- and plurality of. fixed output contacts, output contacts, a third shaft circuits associated with each of said fixed output contacts for providing an electrical impulse representative of the angular position of the said input shaft, a binary commutator on said input and second shafts, relays operated by said binary commutator and connected to the pair of rotating contacts of said second shaft and third shaft respectively to determine which of the corresponding pair of rotating contacts is energized on transition of said contacts from one fixed output to the next whereby an electrical impulse is provided by but a single output circuit of each plurality of fixed output contacts at any angular position of the said shafts.

3. An electrical counter for digitally translating shaft rotations into electrical impulses including an input shaft, a second shaft geared thereto, a plurality of fixed output contacts, a pair of rotating contacts carried by the second mentioned shaft and adapted to successively engage the said fixed output contacts, a third shaft geared to the said second shaft, a second plurality of fixed output contacts, a second pair of rotating contacts carried by the said third shaft and adapted to successively engage the said second plurality of fixed output contacts, a fourth shaft geared to the said third shaft, a pair of fixed plus-minus contacts, an additional pair of rotating contacts carried by the said fourth shaft and adapted to successively engage the said fixed plus-minus contacts, relays and a plurality of make and break contacts operated by the said relays according to the angular position of the said shafts whereby a digitized count in the form of electrical impulses representative of the angular position of the said input shaft is provided, a binary commutator for each of said shafts and a selector relay for each binary commutator, said selector relays operatively connected with the pairs of rotating contacts of a succeeding shaft to determine which member of said pair of rotating contacts is energized during transition from one fixed output contact to the next.

4. An electrical counter for digitally translating shaft rotations into electrical impulses in cluding an input shaft, a second shaft geared thereto, a plurality of fixed output contacts, a pair of rotating contacts carried by the second mentioned shaft and adapted to successively engage the said fixed output contacts, a third shaft geared to the said second shaft, a second plurality of fixed output contacts, a second pair of rotating contacts carried by the said third shaft and adapted to successively engage the said second plurality of fixed output contacts, a relay, binary commutator associated with said input shaft for energizing the said relay during a portion of each rotation of the said input shaft, a second relay, a second binary commutator associated with said second shaft for energizing the said second relay during a portion of each rotation of said second shaft, a third relay, a third binary commutator associated with said third shaft for energizing the said third relay during a portion of each rotation of the said 26 third shaft, and a plurality of make and break contacts operated by the said relays to provide a digitized output count in the form of electrical impulses representative of the angular position of the said input shaft.

5. An electrical counter for digitally translating high speed shaft rotations into successive impulses, comprising: a series of driven shafts geared to said high speed shaft and operable at progressively decreasing speeds; a digital commutator surrounding each of said shafts; a binary commutator also surrounding each of said driven shafts as well as said high speed shaft; a pair of rotating contactors carried by each driven shaft for engagement with a corresponding digital commutator, each pair of contactors being spatially related to engage simultaneously a common commutator segment or succeeding segments but each contactor avoiding bridging between adjacent segments; a rotating contactor for each binary commutator; a relay for each binary commutator operatively connected with the pair of contactors of a succeeding digital commutator for alternative energizing of each of said pair of contactors; and relays connected with the segments of said decade commutators.

6. In an electrical counter for digitally translating rotations of a reversible high speed shaft into additive and subtractive impulses wherein said high speed shaft operates a series of driven shafts surrounded by digital commutators, of means for maintaining fidelity of impulse count irrespective of reversals of said high speed shaft, comprising: a binary commutator surrounding v each of said driven shafts as well as said high speed shaft; a pair of rotating contactors carried by each driven shaft for engagement with a corresponding digital commutator, each pair of contactors being spatially related to engage simultaneously a common commutator segment or succeeding segments but each contactor avoiding bridging between adjacent segments; a rotating contactor for each binary commutator; a

relay for each binary commutator operatively connected with the pair of contactors of a succeeding digital commutator for alternative energizing of each of said pair of contactors; and relays connected With the segments of said decade commutators.

KENNETH P. GOW.

ARTHUR L. KLEIN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,098,227 Chauveau Nov. 9, 1937 2,192,421 Wallace Mar. 5, 1940 2,207,743 Larson et a1. July 16, 1940 2,216,069 Doyle Sept. 24, 1940 2,496,585 Harper Feb. 7, 1950 2,502,837 Entz et a1. Apr. 4, 1950 2,568,348 McCauley Sept. 18, 1951 2,630,562 Johnson Mar. 3, 1953 

